Commit Cycle: September 12 (Men)

Welcome back to Commit Cycle, the bi-weekly(-ish) look at Penn State's committed players and how they're doing with their present teams. The USHL is well into its preseason, while BCHL teams have actually played a couple of regular season games, so let's jump in.

Chase Berger

Forward
Tri-City Storm (USHL)
6'0", 190 pounds
St. Louis, MO
Class of 2015
DOB 11/14/1994

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
9/7	vs. Des Moines (ex)	L 1-4	-	-	-	-	Box Score
9/11	vs. Fargo (ex)	L 2-4	0	0	0	0	Box Score

Berger has made it into a couple Storm games before as a call-up from the team's affiliate list, but the 2011 Tri-City draft pick made his preseason debut as a full-time team member in a loss to Fargo at the USHL Fall Classic West in Sioux City, IA... for the game, he was a -1 and fired three shots on goal.

---

Kevin Kerr

Defenseman
Tri-City Storm (USHL)
5'11", 175 pounds
Bensalem, PA
Class of 2015
DOB 2/9/1996

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
9/7	vs. Des Moines (ex)	L 1-4	0	0	0	0	Box Score
9/11	vs. Fargo (ex)	L 2-4	0	0	0	0	Box Score

Like Berger, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 USHL Futures Draft has played for Tri-City before but is making his full-time move to the USHL this season... the Storm plays another game at the Fall Classic West this afternoon before closing out preseason with three more games against Des Moines, Lincoln and Omaha... the regular schedule opens September 28th with a home game against the Stars.

---

Alec Marsh

Forward
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
5'10", 175 pounds
Bridgewater, NJ
Class of 2015
DOB 11/28/1995

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
9/6	vs. Sioux Falls (ex)	L 4-5	-	-	-	-	Box Score
9/7	vs. Waterloo (ex)	L 0-4	-	-	-	-	Box Score
9/8	vs. Youngstown (ex)	W 5-3	-	-	-	-	Box Score
9/10	vs. Dubuque (ex)	W 5-3	-	-	-	-	Box Score

Big things are expected of Marsh in his second USHL season, but he's off to a non-existent start after missing the first four preseason games with Cedar Rapids, possibly due to an undisclosed injury.

---

Bo Pellah

Defenseman
Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
6'0", 160 pounds
New Westminster, BC
Class of 2014
DOB 5/25/1995

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
9/6	vs. Cedar Rapids (ex)	W 5-4	0	0	0	0	Box Score
9/7	vs. Youngstown (ex)	L 2-3	0	0	0	2	Box Score
9/8	vs. Muskegon (ex)	W 5-3	-	-	-	-	Box Score
9/11	vs. Omaha (ex)	W 4-3	0	0	0	0	Box Score

Pellah has left his native British Columbia and will give the USHL a shot before heading to Penn State, with the Sioux Falls Stampede... so far, he's held up very well, earning a good chunk of ice time in a a variety of situations, and he was also a +1 in each of the two wins involving his participation.

---

James Robinson

Forward
Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
6'1", 180 pounds
Cochrane, AB
Class of 2014
DOB 4/9/1994

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
9/6	vs. Trail	W 4-3	0	0	0	0	Box Score
9/8	vs. Merritt	W 1-0	0	0	0	0	Box Score

The BCHL does not offer detail on its exhibition results, but the Rivermen went 3-1-0 in its preseason schedule... Robinson contributed an opening-goal assist by driving the net against Coquitlam on August 25th and later added a similarly-dirty goal... he scored the 1-0 goal on August 31st against Powell River... the games that count began with a pair of tight Langley wins at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.

Marsh, Berger, Kerr Make USHL Fall Rosters

2015 recruit Alec Marsh is looking for a follow-up to a solid rookie season in Cedar Rapids

Penn State commits Alec Marsh, Chase Berger and Kevin Kerr have all been asked to fall training camps by their respective USHL squads, including the Tri-City Storm (Berger and Kerr) and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Marsh).

Last week's invitations were extended following tryout camps held May 30th through June 2nd (Cedar Rapids) and June 19th through 21st (Tri-City). Teams don't tend to be very sharing concerning the happenings at those camps, although the Storm did provide several updates - notably including the fact that Berger scored twice in three games played by his Maroon Team, then added a goal and an assist in one of the all-star games to close things out. Obviously, the others played pretty well too.

Marsh is a veteran player, as he played 40 games for the RoughRiders last season alongside PSU freshman David Goodwin, scoring four times among his 11 points while seeing his ice time increase as the year proceeded. One-time Tri-City draft picks Kerr and Berger played primarily for their high school and midget major teams, although both have received the odd call-up from the affiliate list, as the two played a combined nine games for the Storm in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

The road isn't quite finished yet. This cutdown was designed for compliance with the USHL's July 10th roster limit of 30 players plus 18 affiliate list players. By the time the season starts, both teams will have to trim further, to 23 on the active roster and 18 affiliate listers. Preseason camps begin in August, with the regular season opening in late September.

While nothing is certain yet, it appears likely that all of Penn State's remaining commits - Bo Pellah, James Robinson and A.J. Greer - will spend 2013-2014 with their 2012-2013 teams, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL), Langley Rivermen (BCHL) and Kimball Union Academy (New England prep), respectively. Greer, who was picked by the Des Moines Buccaneers in Phase 2 of the USHL Draft back in May, is on that team's affiliate list. The Bucs have not put out a roster announcement yet, and while it wouldn't be surprising to see Greer at fall camp, his making the team this season would fall into that category.

Elsewhere, notables surviving USHL tryout camps included Matt Mendelson, a returning player with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and the brother of Nittany Lion women's player Cara Mendelson. Fellow Pittsburgh Hornets product Matt Miller, the long-time boyfriend of the women's team's Stephanie Walkom, is vying for a spot on the Youngstown Phantoms.

PSU Commits Shine at USA Hockey Nationals

Chase Berger added presence - and points - for the Tier I 18U runner-up St. Louis AAA Blues

Forward commit Chase Berger, scheduled for a 2015 entry, came within eight seconds of a spectacular double Sunday afternoon at the USA Hockey Tier I 18U national championship game at Moon Township, PA's RMU/Island Sports Center. After winning the MSCHA title with Saint Louis University High School last month, he and his St. Louis AAA Blues teammates found themselves ahead of the Neponset Valley (MA) River Rats by a 3-2 count mere moments from a Cinderella title and an undefeated run through the entire tournament.

It was not to be. Neponset's Zach Sabatini pounded home a rebound goal to tie things, and Tyler Yates completed the reversal 4:19 into overtime, forcing Berger to settle for a silver medal.

Second place, however, isn't an accurate description of Berger's play throughout the championships, which ran from April 3rd through April 7th. His four points during the playoff rounds, in fact, tied for top honors among all players. Including all games, he produced eight points, including two goals and an assist against the Washington Little Capitals in the quarterfinals. He also notched one goal, one assist games in the round robin stage against Honeybaked and Team Comcast, which includes future teammate Kevin Kerr.

While Berger isn't huge by contemporary standards - he's listed as 6'0", 190 pounds on EliteProspects.com - he plays a big man's game. He's extremely strong on his skates, and in fact, only got knocked off of his feet or the puck once that I noticed in the semifinal against Honeybaked (and even there, it was only a partial, as he was volunteering himself to earn a zone clearance). He's solid on faceoffs thanks largely to that whole being hard to move thing and defensively responsible. With the puck, he's always looking to attack the net with the puck and without it, he creates a mess in front. In other words, he'll fit in great.

Berger, a 2011 USHL Entry Draft selection of the Tri-City Storm (a team, incidentally, owned by PSU forward Kenny Brooks' father Kirk), is expected to begin his junior career in Kearney, NE next season after playing in a pair of games with the team in a brief call up this year.

Speaking of fit, over in San Jose, CA, 2014 women's commit Remi Martin enjoyed a nice run herself in the Tier II 19U championships with the Colorado Tigers. The defender took home a bronze medal following a semifinal loss to the Michigan-based Keweenaw Storm. Before that, and thanks in part to Martin's four points over five tournament games, the Tigers won two of three round robin games, as well as a quarterfinal matchup with the Charles River (MA) Blazers that saw the Littleton, CO native pot the eventual winning goal in the second period. Martin, an outstanding skater, will instantly add several new dimensions to the Nittany Lions. She's a threat to go full end-to-end Bobby Orr from anywhere on the ice, which will in turn open things up for PSU's forwards in transition as forecheckers adjust.

In the Girls Tier I 19U tournament, also in San Jose, Buffalo Bisons defender Kelly Seward - who will arrive this fall - demonstrated her readiness to step right in and contribute with an extremely well-rounded game. In watching her games, the words that kept coming to mind were "steady" and "comfortable." The left-handed shot, simply put, made the right play just about every time and executes all facets of her position well. At 5'9", she also adds some much-needed size to PSU's blueliners - one of the hard lessons of the 2012-2013 season, after all, had to do with the way big forwards from teams like Mercyhurst and Robert Morris were able to control the middle of the ice.

After a promising 2-0 start that included a pair of Seward assists in a win over the New Jersey Colonials, the Bisons were blown out by Honeybaked, the alma mater of current team members Jordin Pardoski, Katie Murphy, Madison Smiddy and Birdie Shaw, in the final round robin game. That forced Buffalo into a lower seed and a tough quarterfinal matchup with powerful Shattuck-St. Mary's. Despite a valiant effort that saw a 0-0 score carried into the final minutes, Baylee Wellhausen's goal with 3:17 left and Taylor Crosby's 21-save shutout proved too much (Crosby, by the way, is the sister of noted SSM alumnus Sidney).

Kevin Kerr helped stretch the eventual champs to overtime in the Tier I 18U quarterfinals

Back in Pennsylvania and at the Tier I 18U boys tournament, Kerr's Team Comcast also bowed out in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 overtime loss to that eventual-champion Neponset Valley team. The 2015 entrant, prior to Bryan Platt's OT dagger, had sparked a rally from a late 3-1 deficit to force extra hockey by assisting on the 3-2 and 3-3 goals 19 seconds apart. On the latter, a laser of a stretch pass from the end boards in his own zone triggered a 2-on-1, an repeatedly-demonstrated element of Kerr's game that will undoubtedly mesh well with Guy Gadowsky's vertical preferences. Comcast, like Seward's Buffalo Bisons, was forced into that difficult game by a loss in the final round robin contest, 5-3 to Berger's Blues, after winning their first two games.

Kerr, the seventh overall pick of Tri-City in the 2012 USHL Futures Draft, played five games for the team this season as an affiliate list player and will join Berger on the Storm before the pair head to PSU after two more seasons.

Here's a rundown of the four Penn Staters to be, Commit Cycle style:

Chase Berger

Forward
St. Louis AAA Blues (Midget Major 18U)
6'0", 190 pounds
St. Louis, MO
Entering 2015
DOB 11/14/1994

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
4/3	vs. Cleveland Barons	W 4-3	0	0	0	0	Box Score
4/4	vs. Detroit Honeybaked	W 6-2	1	1	2	0	Box Score
4/5	vs. Team Comcast	W 5-3	1	1	2	2	Box Score
4/6	vs. Wash. Little Capitals	W 4-1	2	1	3	0	Box Score
4/6	vs. Detroit Honeybaked	W 2-1	0	0	0	0	Box Score
4/7	vs. N. Valley River Rats	L 3-4	0	1	1	0	Box Score

---

Kevin Kerr

Defenseman
Team Comcast (Midget Major 18U)
5'11", 162 pounds
Bensalem, PA
Entering 2015
DOB 2/9/1996

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
4/3	vs. Pgh. Penguins Elite	W 4-2	0	0	0	6	Box Score
4/4	vs. Buffalo Regals	W 3-2	0	1	1	2	Box Score
4/5	vs. St. Louis AAA Blues	L 0-6	0	1	1	2	Box Score
4/6	vs. N. Valley River Rats	L 3-4	0	2	2	2	Box Score

---

Remi Martin

Defender
Colorado Springs Tigers 19U
5'6" // Littleton, CO
Entering 2014
DOB 7/15/1996

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
4/3	vs. Washington Wild	W 2-0	0	0	0	0	Box Score
4/4	vs. Big Sky Wildcats	W 2-1	0	1	1	0	Box Score
4/5	vs. East Coast Wizards	L 1-2	1	0	1	2	Box Score
4/6	vs. Charles River Blazers	W 3-1	1	1	2	0	Box Score
4/7	vs. Keweenaw Storm	L 1-2	0	0	0	0	Box Score

---

Kelly Seward

Defender
Buffalo Bisons 19U
5'9" // Williamsville, NY
Entering 2013
DOB 6/7/1995

Date	Opponent	Score	G	A	Pts.	PIM
4/3	vs. Team Pittsburgh	W 9-4	0	0	0	0	Box Score
4/4	vs. New Jersey Colonials	W 5-3	0	2	2	0	Box Score
4/5	vs. Detroit Honeybaked	L 0-6	0	0	0	0	Box Score
4/6	vs. Shattuck-St. Mary's	L 0-1	0	0	0	2	Box Score

Three Stars: March 25-31

3. East Shore athlete of the week: Hershey's Luk Devorski
(pennlive.com)

A rare bit of Commonwealth Campus recruiting news: Luk Devorski, who just captained Hershey High to the Bears Cup title, plans to play hockey at PSU-Altoona next year. Devorski is the son of NHL referee Paul Devorski, which means that between Luk Devorski and Steph Walkom on the NCAA women's team, Penn State has clearly tapped the abundant "kids of NHL referees" pipeline.

2. PSU Hockey lands '14 James Robinson
(Lions 247)

James Robinson, our newest NCAA commit, gets the Dzurita - and apparently, he decided to go to Penn State without ever visiting campus. Here's Robinson on how that's possible:

“When I met with both [Coach Gadowsky and Coach Fisher] in person, they really stressed the academics of the school and how good it was. A combination of that and Coach Gadowsky’s track record making weaker teams into stronger teams helped out. His resume really did it for me.”

Score another for people over buildings. Just saying.

1. Coach Josh Brandwene returns to alma mater for historic season
(Daily Collegian)

Great subject matter meets great writing in this extended feature. Read and enjoy.

Best of the Rest

@Rob_Gsinger25
(Twitter)

While I have yet to be invited on a Pegula Ice Arena tour - I'm not exactly well-liked by administration if you haven't heard - I have no problem acknowledging when a guy like Rob Greissinger does a good job documenting things, as he did on Friday. And yes, for the 85th time, seats.

College hockey is enjoying a renaissance on eve of conference shuffle
(triblive.com)

Guy Gadowsky is quoted in this article, and although I wouldn't exactly file it under "breaking news," it's still a nice look at what has been a surge in popularity for college puck ahead of the Pittsburgh-hosted Frozen Four next weekend. Whatever you think of the imminent changes, there's very little doubt that as of April 1, 2013, the game is as healthy as it's ever been - and that's really exciting.

But then, this:

Jennifer Heppel, Big Ten associate commissioner for governance, said that unlike realignment in football and basketball, money was not the motivation.

Hahahahahahahahaha.... okay.

Reliving the 'Miracle on Ice' with 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team Captain Mike Eruzione
(statecollege.com)

Here's Joe Battista on the Miracle on Ice, since Mike Eruzione is speaking at Penn State on April 10th... hockey players talk about "living the dream" a lot, but Eruzione has to be the final word on it. Have one good game, make a living talking about it 33 years after the fact. No disrespect meant of course, he's earned it obviously... although it has to be said that Mark Johnson chose a slightly different route.

@CornellWAFT
(Twitter)

Far more of a powerhouse than the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament this year and a Frozen Four participant? Coming from the guy who picked Wisconsin (which lost 6-1 in their opening game) to win the national championship? Eh... I'll still take it.

Michigan Hockey's Unprecedented NCAA Streak Ends. What's Next?
(Maize 'n Brew)

I don't hate Michigan as much as most Penn Staters - the lifelong Ohioan thing probably as something to do with it - so seeing their side... well... kind of okay about seeing their 22-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances end this year doesn't bother me. I suppose we have to start knowing the other Big Ten teams almost as well as we know our own, and this look at the program heading into the offseason is as good of a place as any to start with the Wolverines.

Chase Berger: Captain, Leader, Legend

Berger sticks around to captain Challenge Cup title team
(stltoday.com)

PSU commit Chase Berger was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's All-Metro Player of the Year after leading Saint Louis University High School to the Challenge Cup, the Mid-States Club Hockey Association's championship trophy. It was the first title in SLUH history, won after Berger delayed his entry to the USHL with the Tri-City Storm (who drafted him in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft) to take one last shot at it.

Hawkeyes Hockey Begins Women’s Hockey Team
(hawkeyeshockey.net)

Iowa is starting a non-varsity women's hockey team with plans to join the ACHA by the 2014-2015 season... and elected to illustrate the news with a photo of Hannah Hoenshell against Lindenwood at the Ice Pavilion.

Spartan hockey: Rebuilding takes 4-5 years, coach says
(Lansing State Journal)

Michigan State coach Tom Anastos lays out his rebuilding plan for the Spartans, notable from a Penn State perspective because the Big Ten is apparently terrible (a good MSU would help fix that) and also because Anastos says that next year's league schedule is "not yet finalized," as the slates for non-Big Ten teams have begun to trickle out.

As a reminder, until we have a full schedule, I'm trying to assemble as much of it as I can here.

George Gwozdecky to Leave DU Hockey Bench
(denverpioneers.com)

And finally: after 19 years, 443 wins and two national championships, George Gwozdecky - once given the Head Coach Candidate treatment on this blog back in 2010 - is done at Denver.

Berger Helps SLUH to Missouri HS Title

2015 commit Chase Berger (white) works around a Kirkwood defender during the MSCHA quaterfinals

Chase Berger, a 2015 forward commit, helped his Saint Louis University High School Jr. Billikens to the Missouri state championship Monday night, the school's first, with a 2-1 overtime win over Christian Brothers College High School at the Scottrade Center, home of the St. Louis Blues.

Berger played an integral part in the title-winning goal. Via stltoday.com:

The championship actually came on the end of [Stephen] Lordo’s stick just 3 minutes, 18 seconds into overtime.

He slipped a shot past CBC goaltender Joseph O’Brien and into the Cadets' net to send everyone with anything to do with SLUH hockey into a championship frenzy.

“Our captain, our emotional leader Chase Berger threw a great puck at the net, he always makes a smart play,” Lordo said. “He just wrapped a gift right on the doorstep and I was able to hammer it home.”

Lordo, in case you didn't connect those gigantic dots, is the brother of Penn State defenseman Joe Lordo and is headed to Robert Morris on a lacrosse scholarship.

Following a 19-5-2 regular season that led to a no. 2 ranking, SLUH was invited to the Mid-States Club Hockey Association's Challenge Cup playoffs (in Missouri, high school hockey, unlike most sports, is not sanctioned by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, but by the MSCHA) and swept through Lindbergh (8-4), Vianney (2-1) and Westminster (5-1) in a round robin stage on January 31st, February 2nd and February 4th, respectively.

In a best-of-three quarterfinal round on February 8th and 11th, the Jr. Bills took down Kirkwood by 5-3 and 6-1 scores, with Berger scoring twice in each game.

Then, in a semifinal rematch with Lindbergh, SLUH was backed up against elimination with a 4-1 loss in game one on February 21st, but bounced back to win 4-0 on the 23rd, followed by a 1-0 win in a 10-minute mini-game to decide the series. Senior captain Berger starred in game two with a natural hat trick, and assisted on the only goal in the mini-game.

“We were flat that first night, and the second night we came out and knew we needed to give everything we had so the fans had one more game to watch,” Berger said of the team’s mentality on Saturday night.

Berger’s only comment on to his twig work was, “They were getting pretty cocky on Twitter and other things so we came out pretty turnt.”

Berger finished his high school season with 15 goals, while with his midget major team, the St. Louis AAA Blues, he led the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League in scoring with 66 points in 40 games. Berger plans to join the USHL's Tri-City Storm, which selected him in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft, next season (after receiving a two-game call-up this season). Two seasons later, he'll follow his brother - Princeton junior captain Jack Berger - in playing for Guy Gadowsky.

Three Stars: July 23-29

3. @PegulaVille
(Twitter)

PegulaVille
(Facebook)

Just so you can't accuse me of not keeping you informed, there is something resembling an effort to get students to camp out for hockey games. I say "something resembling" because so far, it's just a Twitter account and a Facebook page begging for attention from Penn State and hockey-related people. That list didn't include me, so score one for Goon's World and the "nobody reads TYT" argument, I guess. On Twitter, I did retweet and follow the guy anyway, and got a follow back. So basically, we're boys now, I guess. Just to be clear, despite where I'm about to go, this or any student-initiated effort to promote interest in hockey has TYT's full support.

Interestingly, on Saturday, John Tecce chimed in on PegulaVille, via Twitter (1, 2):

Could we see a new PSU tradition on the way? Just stumbled across @Pegulaville, which is exactly what it sounds like it is. Having seen logistical side of something like that, it would have to occur indoors. Would be interesting to explore when Pegula Arena opens.

Tecce, if you're unfamiliar (and shame on you if you are) is a former president of Paternoville Nittanyville Paternoville (hey, it was still called that when he served). So yeah, he'd know about it. I'm not as informed about the obstacles as he is, but off the top of my head, I would think hockey season weather and space where it could be done safely and non-obtrusively would be major considerations that may push the group into the main lobby of the PIA. From what I can tell, that's a large, indoors area that won't be used all that much, except on gamedays (the community rink will have a separate entrance/lobby). John, thoughts? (1, 2)

I think it would be awesome to see. Would require a lot of coordination w AD and OPP to allow kids to camp in arena...tough to police it though. Trusting college kids in an arena that nice takes a lot.

Long story short, setting up social media accounts and getting attention is the fun part. Hopefully the guy behind the idea is willing to take on the not fun part as well - he'd be well advised to start with a history lesson. It's not a simply a matter of deciding you want to do something, raising awareness, and parking your tents. The football group's coordination committee doesn't exist merely to squeeze some funding out of it. Of course, people are allowed to disagree with me.

I was thinking if we get enough student support that we could make this into an official club at PSU and squeeze some funding out of it

Ugh.

2. Q&A with Penn State Coach Guy Gadowsky
(College Hockey News)

I suppose from a journalism point of view, this was well done. But as a Penn State and a Guy Gadowsky fan, the way CHN pounded on the "get Gadowsky to express a negative emotion" button was a little tacky, and the interrogative tone was unwarranted (obviously, I wasn't a witness to the conversation, so I'll acknowledge that it may not have gone as it reads, but I'm not the only person who felt that way). After seven scandal-specific questions, at least two of which were attempts to take a positive answer and spin it into a negative follow-up, we get...drumroll...

Your first reaction was as a parent, of course. I would be completely dishonest if I didn't go through that emotion.

...which was really just a repeat of something he had already said, and something I had possibly seen/heard him say before this interview (admittedly, it all runs together after a while). Either way, congratulations on getting a father to admit that he thinks of his kids first.

That said, I dare you to read the interview and argue that we hired the wrong guy. So it's not all bad I guess. But I do think that USCHO won the duel of head-to-head Gadowsky articles by a lot.

1. Penn State: Light in the Darkness
(Without a Peer)

It's not often that I play this card, but I will here: Just read it. It will restore your faith in the ability of people affiliated with other institutions to present a good, balanced take on things.

PS. The picture at the top is former RPI standout Oren Eizenman (2003-2007), Icer and ACHA Hall-of-Famer Alon's younger brother. As far as I know, the Eizenman family is pretty much the one thing PSU and RPI have in common, other than Union on the schedule this year. Well, that and the two games PSU played at Houston Field House in 1985 against non-RPI opponents that, in fact, no longer exist (not just the hockey programs, the entire schools).

Best of the Rest

Federal Hockey League Team Relocates to Pennsylvania
(The Hockey Writers)

Shooting for the Show gave you guys the heads up on the team that will be known as the Williamsport Outlaws a month ago, but there's been an interesting development in the story:

The Outlaws will play their entire [2012-2013] season at Bowman Field in Williamsport. The field is home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Single-A short season affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Once the baseball season is over, the process of laying ice will begin for the Outlaws’ 30 home games form October to January. When the team is not using the rink, it will be open for public skating. Since Williamsport does not have an ice rink, the outdoor pond will be the first of its kind in the city.

The unorthodox arrangement is a temporary measure until an indoor rink can be developed, possibly in the city's YMCA building. Still, outdoor hockey...yay?

Penn State’s other sports will survive
(triblive.com)

Here's Rob Rossi (we're probably related, although I can't prove it) on the subject of the NCAA sanctions and their effect on non-football sports:

Sanctions levied Monday by the NCAA against Penn State’s disgraced football program will not put the university’s fledgling hockey teams on ice.

Nor will the other 26 programs that comprise Penn State’s athletic department be negatively impacted by punishments against the football program that include scholarship reductions, disqualification from bowl games, vacated victories and a $60 million fine.

“People are going to see that figure and be wowed by it, but it’s not a significant number considering the ability of that program and that institution to generate money,” said Daniel Fulks, a professor at Transylvania (Ky.) University.

My Comets beat Cleveland Heights 3-1 in the Snow Days Tournament championship...hey, would you rather have a photo of Ohio State here?

Another outdoor game rumored for Ohio State icers
(examiner.com)

Know what makes more sense than an Ohio State-Mercyhurst outdoor game in Cleveland? Most things, actually.

I will leave this out there though: the Cleveland Indians put on a festival called Snow Days at Progressive Field during the winter months, which includes things like a high school hockey tournament (won by Solon, my alma mater, last year I'm proud to say), ice skating and snow tubing. In other words, there will probably be an ice rink set up there with or without a college hockey game, removing much of the expense from the equation.

It's about time living where I do gave me some kind of advantage.

By the way, the rumored game won't take place until December 2013, so feel free to forget all about this.

INCH A-Z: Jack Berger, Princeton
(Inside College Hockey)

While Penn State is a full-on NCAA Division I hockey program now, we're still in a little bit of an awkward place where I don't really expect full-on NCAA Division I treatment all the time. For instance, I'd be kind of surprised if INCH featured a Nittany Lion in their annual A-Z series this year. Prove me wrong, INCH.

In case they don't, here's Jack Berger's entry. He was recruited to Princeton by Guy Gadowsky, who then moved laterally on the Berger family tree to recruit brother Chase to PSU for 2015.

Chase Berger Commits to Penn State University
(St. Louis AAA Blues)

Speaking of...this is old news (Berger committed in early May), but this is the first acknowledgement I've seen from his current team.

@sportnsound
(Twitter)

Did you not hear what I just said above? I'm happy he stayed at UMD too. Actually, I don't really need to be happy, since he didn't have much of a choice - he wasn't offered the job.

Let me just put something out there, because to be honest, I'm kind of sick of this sentiment that's been floating out there for over a year that Gadowsky was something other than a first choice.

1. I know for a fact that he was the last of the three finalists (Mark Johnson was the third if you've forgotten) interviewed. Actually, I don't even think that's insider knowledge anymore, as it more or less came out after the fact. That sounds like a slot you'd give to your leader going into the final round, so that you can make an immediate offer if he confirms your opinion. That is what played out, as the interview turned into a trip to Philly for a Sabres-Flyers playoff game and a face-to-face with Terry Pegula. That took place on a Friday/Friday night, and Gadowsky was officially announced on that Sunday - Easter Sunday, when a certain half-in-the-bag blogger, not expecting any news that day, had to get something online from his parents' house.
2. Given all of that, would they have offered Sandelin or Johnson the job before even talking to Gadowsky? What about after? It seems much more likely that an offer was made to Gadowsky Friday, then accepted Sunday after the standard "let me talk it over with the missus" day.
3. Rejected finalists are often allowed to "withdraw" as a face-saving courtesy. The fact that Sandelin and Johnson both apparently took that option means nothing.

No guesswork needed on my opinion. I know it's easy for me to say now, but back when I thought Sandelin was going to be the guy, I was disappointed. When I later heard that it was likely to be Gadowsky, my initial reaction was "Really? We can get him?"

Niagara AD McLaughlin Leaves for VCU
(College Hockey News)

A big change in the administration of one of PSU's CHA riv...oh, right.

@PJ_Musico
(Twitter)

The sophomore goalie's banter with now-former teammate Paul Daley is hands down the funniest (relevant to this blog) thing I've seen in a while. Don't get it? Check out the last entry in this Three Stars from a few months back.

Seriously, if someone who reads this blog makes a sign that says "Skoff >>>Wawa" and sends me a photo of it on display at a game (preferably behind the PSU net while Skoff's in a game, but I won't be picky about that), I'll name my first born after you. Or maybe just something on this blog.

Three Stars: June 18-24

3. New York Islanders Business Directory
(newyorkislanders.com)

Unfortunately, I was unable to find a press release on this, but...

Matt Bertani, who served as an Icers assistant from 2005-2008, is the new video coach for the New York Islanders. Quite an impressive career track, to say the least. He left PSU to assist with the Islanders' AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he remained until now (surviving a head coaching change in the process, which shows a good deal of organizational faith). He's a dyed-in-the-wool ACHA guy, as he played with Mercyhurst's club team and he also developed some pretty diverse experience as a youth hockey coach prior to coming to PSU.

Actually, it's a meteoric rise and a great comeback story - you may recall that Bertani was nearly killed in a men's league game last year while suffering a broken neck in a collision. Congratulations Matt!

2. Gadowsky adds a pair of forwards
(Lions247)

Meet Alec Marsh and Chase Berger - at the moment, PSU's entire 2015 recruiting class.

1. Jerry Sandusky guilty on 45 of 48 counts
(The Daily Collegian)

I hope that this isn't taken as minimizing the trauma of those who came into physical contact with Jerry Sandusky and who then stood as his accusers, but we were all his victims. The justice system has done what it could with him - he'll likely spend the rest of his life as the worst type of person one can be in prison - and for that I'm glad. I just wish it could give us back what we've lost in transit to this point.

This story will likely fade from the national media's consciousness now, although the appeals, the civil suits, the Freeh report that already smells like a sham designed to pin this all on "football culture" (whatever that means), the hopeful unmasking of all in Penn State administration who kept what I suspect was a "well-known secret" at the highest levels of university governance...all of those things make this an awkward sort of semi-closure. They will keep picking at the scabs and delaying the already imperfect healing process. The good news? We are Penn State. Emphasis on "we," because Penn Staters, collectively, are what makes Penn State great. Keep excelling at whatever it is you do in life. Live the last verse of the alma mater. Do it while wearing a PSU shirt, if possible. Take the hits you'll undoubtedly receive for doing so, but keep moving forward.

We are Penn State, and we will eventually take our university back.

PS. I'm absolutely stunned that more people haven't pointed out that Sandusky is one of the jokers in the unlicensed Penn State Football Heroes playing card decks sold at PSU retail outlets for several years. The actual cards simply have footballs in the top left and bottom right corners, so I took some artistic license there.

Best of the Rest

Pride of Pegula Store
(cafepress.com)

Dooooo itttttttt.... you know you're going to want to white something out at a hockey game at some point. Pictured: my likely first purchase.

Penn State back in play for Army hockey
(recordonline.com)

The October 26th game at Army is one of my favorites this year. The Black Knights are one of just three currently-active Division I programs played by Penn State's original 1940-1947 varsity team, and the only one on this year's schedule (Cornell and Colgate are the others). I'm glad that fact hasn't gotten lost.

Penn State will play on Oct. 26 at Tate Rink, the first visit by the Nittany Lions to West Point since 1947. The school dropped varsity hockey after that season and has competed as a club program in recent years. Penn State will compete as a Division I independent this season and join the new Big Ten conference in 2013-14.

"Recent years?" Makes it sound as if the Icers started up in 2004. Oh well, nobody's perfect.

Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, NCAA Sanctions and the “Death Penalty”
(Victory Bell Rings)

Included because it brings up an interesting idea, forwarded mostly by people who hate Penn State: could the NCAA sanction PSU to the stone age? While anything is possible, I don't believe they will, because the simple fact is that none of what happened affected the on-field product in any way. When the NCAA speaks of "lack of institutional control," it's in the context of breaking NCAA rules, which are in place (generally) to ensure fairness in the realm of athletics (that's what the first "A" is for, after all). I question whether the NCAA has the jurisdiction to punish PSU for this. I also question why this story gets coverage from ESPN, but that's a different rant.

Even if the NCAA wants to bring penalties on Penn State athletics, where do they begin? As I said, this is not a football crime, regardless of how it has been portrayed. If a penalty comes, it has to be big. It has to be everybody from women’s basketball, to wrestling to baseball and fencing. A hockey team that doesn’t yet exist would be penalized. Will the NCAA punish hundreds of athletes because of the wrong-doings of an administration? Has there ever been an NCAA punishment that didn’t involve a single athlete committing a single infraction?

Yeah, basically.

Click to enlarge.

Under Construction for the Pegula Ice Arena!
(I admit)

An updated PIA photo from a likely, yet not, source - a PSU Undergraduate Admissions blog.

Penn State Ice Pavilion Tickets
(StubHub)

Every once in a while, I come across a little reminder of big-time status that blows my mind. This is one of those, even though there aren't any tickets up yet.

Western Pennsylvania nets notable status in hockey world
RMU hockey basks in ’Burgh spotlight
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

With the NHL Entry Draft in the Steel City Friday and Saturday, local media did not disappoint with the easily-predicted "yay Pittsburgh hockey!" articles. But hey, good PA hockey is good for Penn State. And Robert Morris. So yay, indeed.

Signs point to Federal league in Williamsport
(Shooting for the Show)

Closer to the other end of the commonwealth, it looks as if Williamsport might be getting a taste of our favorite sport.



Connecticut jumping to Hockey East, to 18 scholarships for 2014-15 season
(USCHO)

The headline more or less says it all. Hockey East finally has their 12th team, and hopefully UConn will prove worthy of it because a successful big school in a big conference is good for college hockey. They're adding the full 18 scholarships (up from zero) and will play home conference games at the XL Center, formerly the Hartford Civic Center, also formerly the home of the Hartford Whalers. So yeah, I'm dropping some Pat Verbeek on you.

And just because I haven't done this in a while, here's how the conferences stack up, beginning in 2014. The only change from 2013 to 2014 will be the Huskies' arrival in Hockey East from Atlantic Hockey.

Big Ten (6): Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin.

NCHC (8): Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan.

Hockey East (12): Boston College, Boston University, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Massachusetts-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Providence, Vermont.

ECAC (12): Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Quinnipiac, RPI, St. Lawrence, Union, Yale.

WCHA (9): Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, Northern Michigan

Atlantic Hockey (11): Air Force, American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RIT, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart.

Still Screwed, But Hoping the WCHA Has Mercy (1): Alabama-Huntsville.

Don't bother memorizing it, I'm sure it will change before 2014 in some way.

Just Three Proposals for Prime Canalside Site
(Buffalo Rising)

Sounds like TPegs might finally be looking to shut Canisius up. Yeah, I thought their begging for a handout was a little gauche - and before you accuse me of hypocrisy, Pegula actually has a connection to Penn State and initiated the discussion with the school. So there. Anyway...

Sources said the Sabres are proposing a multi-rink facility, with a themed sports bar/restaurant to be developed by Delaware North Cos. for the block. The rinks would be used as a practice facility for the team as well as the home base for some of the area's collegiate hockey teams. It would also host amateur and youth tournaments.

According to Business First, the Sabres/Delaware North project also includes a hotel component, parking for 1,000 cars, and retail along both Main and Perry streets. There would be two rinks, one with spectator seating for a couple of hundred, the other with up to 1,500.

That's actually smaller than the rink of Division III Buffalo State, where the Griffs currently play. Then again, they drew 626 fans per game last year, fourth worst in DI, so I think they'll be okay.

Title IX at 40
(Philadelphia Inquirer)

Finally, happy birthday to Title IX - a landmark not only for female athletes, but for everyone who believes in equality.

Good Berger

As first reported by none other than 2013 forward David Goodwin, forward Chase Berger, his "good friend," has joined Penn State's recruiting class of 2015. He's the second to commit for that year, after New Jersey's Alec Marsh did so in March.

Chase Berger

Forward
St. Louis Amateur Blues (MWEHL)
6'0", 180 pounds
St. Louis, MO
DOB 11/14/1994

EliteProspects.com

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2009-10  STL Amateur Blues U16  Mdgt   37   11    9   20    8
2010-11  STL Amateur Blues U18  MWEHL  38   10   19   29    4
2011-12  STL Amateur Blues U18  MWEHL  40   19   19   38   26
2011-12  Tri-City Storm         USHL    2    0    0    0    0

That Goodwin broke the news is hardly a surprise. Berger is from St. Louis and spent the last two seasons playing midget major for the St. Louis Amateur Blues, the same team Goodwin called home from 2008-2010. 2012 defenseman Joe Lordo, still another St. Louis native, is also a former Blue. Goodwin, of course, plays for the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers and was teammates with 2012 goaltender Matt Skoff this past season. A former Muskie, PSU sophomore forward Tommy Olczyk, also played with Skoff.

There you go: Berger to a current Penn State player in three degrees. Recruiting is, in fact, all about connections. In case you didn't know that. Want another connection? Sure, I can do that.

Berger's older brother (one of them, he's the third of Dan and Cindy Berger's five sons) is Princeton junior Jack Berger. I shouldn't need to tell you who recruited Jack to Princeton.*

* I'd like to point out that this isn't the first mention of the Berger family on TYT. In the course of sharing this story about Jack's exploits as the living definition of student-athlete in Three Stars last October, I said "Incidentally brother Chase, mentioned as being better at his age than Jack, is a late 1994 birth year playing midget major for the St. Louis Amateur Blues. He's also on the affiliate list for the USHL's Tri-City Storm, which drafted him this year. Just in case our APR needs a bump." I don't mean to toot my own horn, but hey, toot toot.

Described as a "talented, versatile forward" Berger is expected to finish out high school in St. Louis next year before joining the Storm in 2013-2014. While in Kearney, there's a good chance he'll team up with 2014 defenseman Kevin Kerr, who was drafted seventh by the team in the USHL Futures Draft on May 1st (Kerr still stands a chance of being picked for the U.S. National Team Development Program). Berger was called up to Tri-City for a pair of late-season games and managed four shots on goal.

He's managed a lot more than that with the Amateur Blues and with St. Louis University High School. Berger helped the latter to a 22-3-3 record in 2011-2012 and an appearance in the Mid-States Club Hockey Association Challenge Cup final. In a 5-3 win in the front end of a two-legged semifinal matchup, Berger scored the last two goals of the game. In all, he had 18 goals and 12 assists for the Jr. Billikens.

His goal scoring total ranked second on the the Amateur Blues this past season, as did his three game winners. Berger scored two of the team's five shorties. He got hot late in the year with 13 points in his last nine games. In 2010-2011, St. Louis plowed through the league at 30-2-8 and advanced to the USA Hockey 18U nationals. Berger scored the opening goal of his team's only win of the tournament, 4-1 over the Colorado Thunderbirds, and added an assist in a loss to Mid-Fairfield.